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Vendor Landscape: Canadian Co-location/Managed Services
Sort through disguised differentiation to get back to an apples-to-apples comparison.
Last Revised: August 22, 2012
More Details
Your Challenge
- The decision to co-locate (all or part of) the data center facility can be risky. The decision to build vs. buy is one of cost – IT decision makers must put in the time and effort to gather requirements, determine the needs of the business, and select a co-location vendor to ensure the engagement is successful.
- Organizations struggle to differentiate vendors to choose the best fit. It is important that organizations outline their individual requirements in order to ensure that the most suitable vendor is selected.
- It is also extremely important that organizations foresee future needs. More organizations will require a hybrid model of services, including co-location, managed services, and cloud services. Select a vendor that can meet current and future needs.
Our Advice
Critical Insight- Most mid-sized organizations begin with a co-location solution and evolve into a managed services or cloud solution. Therefore, it is important that vendors can provide a hybrid model to ensure that customers can evolve in the relationship.
- Many vendors in the co-location space have cut out their basic level of co-location service and are only offering managed services.
- There are three Tiers of vendors (based on size, geography, and market influence); the majority of mid-sized enterprises should concentrate on vendors that fall into the Tier 2 category. Generally, there is really no difference in capacity or capability in the market – just size.
- Understand the importance of a hybrid model when considering your co-location vendor.
- Evaluate Canadian co-location/managed services vendors and services for your enterprise needs.
- Determine the requirements of your enterprise and ensure that the vendor meets them.
Get to Action
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Evaluate Canadian Co-location providers and available solutions
Understand the Canadian Co-location provider market, the players, and their products.
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Identify the solutions that best fit enterprise needs
Develop a customized shortlist to speed solution selection.
Related Solution Sets
Develop a Co-location Strategy
Successful data center co-location strategies are a function of cost and vendor selection.
Vendor Landscape: European Co-location/Managed Services
Take the time to thoroughly evaluate the European market before making your decision.
Related Content
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Companies Who Helped
- AllStream
- Bell
- CentriLogic
- Data Centers Canada
- PEER 1
- Primus
- Q9 Networks
- RackForce
- Savvis
Solution Road Map
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Develop a Co-location StrategySuccessful data center co-location strategies are a function of cost and vendor selection.
-
Vendor Landscape: Canadian Co-location/Managed ServicesSort through disguised differentiation to get back to an apples-to-apples comparison.
-
Vendor Landscape: European Co-location/Managed ServicesTake the time to thoroughly evaluate the European market before making your decision.